In 2010, the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP10) was held in Nagoya, Japan. At that time, the Government of Japan was instrumental in suggesting the twenty 10-year targets aiming to restore lost biological diversity that were adopted as the “Aichi Biodiversity Targets.”

Ramsar Network Japan suggested a framework to widen the field for their implementation beyond the scope of the Biodiversity Convention, and brought the discussions of the CBD/COP10 to the United Nations General Assembly, which adopted the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity” (UNDB) to function as such a framework. On the basis of this decision, the “Japan Committee for UNDB” was set up (with its office in the Ministry of Environment). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Japan Committee (with its office in the Nature Conservation Society of Japan) set up the “Double 20 Campaign,” both to raise awareness and promote achievement of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets on the citizen level. Many citizen’s groups and individuals have joined this campaign, and Ramsar Network Japan has registered the “Rice-paddy Biodiversity Enhancement Decade” (RiceBED) as a “Double 20 Campaign” project. Activities are already under way.

RiceBED’s purpose is to provide a platform for a wide variety of activities that put into practice the contents of the decision and resolution on enhancing rice paddy biodiversity adopted by the Biodiversity and Ramsar Conferences of the Parties,respectively.

To this end, Ramsar Network Japan held a workshop in November, 2012 to draw up an action plan, with participants from local governments and organizations, as well as individuals who have already been engaged in this field, and the “Rice-paddy Biodiversity Enhancement Decade Action Plan” was put together.

This Action Plan gives concrete shape to the action necessary to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and international rice paddy resolutions. Activities aiming for completion in 2020 are now being initiated and carried out all over Japan.

We call on all agriculturalists, citizens, corporations and government authorities with an interest in rice paddy biodiversity to join hands with us to carry out this plan to pursue and achieve the goals of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and rice paddy resolution.

RiceBED has been recognized as an authorized cooperative project by the Japan Committee for UNDB, raising expectations for significant results.